Packaging machine



g- 22, 1961 s. GILBERT 2,996,866

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2,996,866 PACKAGING MACHINE Sidney Gilbert, 420 W. 62nd St., Miami Beach 40, Fla. Filed Feb. 23, 1960, Ser. No. 10,494 6 Claims. (Cl. 53-679) This invention relates to an improved machine for sealing wrapping film to a tray for food or other articles.

In particular, this invention relates to a machine of the above type which is particularly suitable for use in pre-packaging of products in stores or the like, which utilizes a minimum amount of wrapping film, which is easy and eflicient to use and which is adaptable to use with trays of varying sizes.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, the apparatus is provided with a tray holder which is adapted to receive a filled tray which may be made of paperboard, molded paper pulp or other suitable material.

A piece of wrapping film is placed over the top of the tray and extends beyond the periphery thereof. This wrapping film may be a heat-scalable material, such as polyethylene, or a wrapping material coated with polyethylene or other suitable heat-sealing coating. The coating is optionally placed upon the film only in the area which is to be heat-sealed to the side walls of the tray.

In the preferred embodiment of the apparatus, a folding form is then lowered, this folding form having members which fold the film downwardly on each side of the tray against the outer face of such side. Such folding form also includes pressure members which extend against the inside face of each side wall of the tray, just below the top edge thereof.

In said preferred embodiment of the apparatus, when the folding frame is thus lowered, by means of a microswitch or other means, it actuates a mechanism which extends the heat-sealing members radially inwardly into engagement with the film against the outer sides of the trays, thereby sealing the film to the side walls of the trays.

In accordance with this invention, it is not necessary to wrap the film around the bottom of the tray, thereby greatly reducing the cost of the film needed to pack the trays.

.The machine is simple to operate, in that the operator merely places a tray and film upon the tray holder, manipulates an operating lever and subsequently removes the tray from the tray holder after the film has been sealed thereto.- Of course, if desired, some of these operations may be made automatic. The machine has the great advantage that parts may be interchanged in order to make it possible to seal trays of different sizes. In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention, it is a simple procedure to change the folding device and the tray holder for any given desired size of tray with increased selected limits. Thus, in a Working model of the machine, it is possible on a single machine to sealtrays varying in size from three inches by five inches to eight inches by ten inches. The tray may either be flush packed or may be packed so as to create a bulge on top.

Otherobjects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description, in conjunction with the annexed drawing, in which a preferred embodiment of the invention'is disclosed.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the preferred embodiment of my invention, showing the folding form in raised position and showing in broken lines the tray and a 96 of material placed upon the tray holder.

niteti States Patent FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section on line 44 of FIG. 3, and shows a tray packed with selected material and placed on the tray holder, with a sheet of film placed over the top of the tray and with the ceiling shoes in retracted position.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the folding form lowered so as to fold the film material against the sides of the tray and so as to locate the pressure members in proper position adjacent the upper inner surfaces of the side walls of the tray.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIGS. 4 and 5, but showing the sealing shoes in extended position wherein the film is sealed to the outer surfaces of the side walls of the tray.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the completed tray.

Upon reference to the drawings in detail it will be noted that the drawing shows a rectangular frame 10 supporting a pair of laterally spaced and vertically extending guide rods 11. A cross arm 12 is slidably supported at its respective ends on said rods 11 for vertical movement and in turn supports on the center of its upper face, a tray holder 13. Said tray holder :13 is mounted upon arm 12 so as to be readily replaceable by a tray holder of different size.

A horizontal plate 14 is mounted for vertical sliding movement upon said rods 11 near the top thereof, and in turn supports in depending relationship at its center, a folding frame 15 which is in vertical registration with tray holder 13.

Tray holder 13 is adapted to receive a tray 16 on its upper face, and a sheet of film 17 is adapted to be laid over the open top of said tray 16.

Any suitable means are provided, illustratively shown as including handle 13 and associated lever members, for lowering folder 15 in relation to tray holder so as to fold the outer peripheral portion of the film 17 downwardly about the side wall of tray 16, and so as to further lower slightly the combined assembly of t-ray holder 13 and folder 15. This brings the tray 16 and film 17 into horizontal registration with a plurality of heat shoes 19. Any suitable means, which includes solenoid 20, may be provided for moving said heat shoes 19 between a retracted position in which they are remote from the sides of tray 16, and an extended position in which they are located so as to seal the film against the sides of tray 16.

Frame 10 is optionally box-like in shape and includes longitudinally and vertically extending guide walls 10a, laterally and vertically extending rear walls 10b and bottom wall or base 10c.

Guide rods 11 rest upon base 10c adjacent side walls 10a and in the longitudinal center of frame 10. These rods 11 may be secured to base 10c by any suitable means (not shown), and are optionally supported at their upper end by a connecting cross bar 21. In addition, each side wall 10a has an inwardly extending bearing boss 22 adjacent to the top thereof, and this bearing boss 22 has a vertical through bore through which rod 11 extends.

Cross arm 12 extends laterally and horizontally. Adjacent its ends, said arm 12 is rearwardly inclined at 12a and thereby connects with end arm portions 12b which have vertical bores through which rods 11 respectively extend. A sleeve bearing 25 is optionally provided around rod 11 within the bore of arm portion 12b. A coil spring 26 extends around rod 11 between base 10c and the lower face of arm end portion 1212, so as to bias the arm upwardly.

An upstanding block 27 is fixed centrally to arm 12 to serve as a support for tray holder 13. Said tray holder 13 is generally rectangular in shape and has front and rear arms 28 extending laterally and side arms 29 extending longitudinally. These arms 28 and 29 are connected centrally by thin arms 30 and 31, respectively, to a centrally laterally elongated plate 32 which overlies the top of member 27. A pair of screws 33 extend through countersunk openings 35 of plate 32 and into appropriately threaded recesses of member 27, so as releasably to secure tray holder 13 in place. (One of said screws 33 is omitted in FIG. 3.)

A plurality of upstanding pins 34 are fixed to the upper faces of arms 28 and 29, adjacent the outer periphery of tray holder 13, and serve as locating means for tray 16. In other words, the base 16a of tray 16 is nested within the pins 34. In the event that the side walls 16b and front and rear walls 160 of tray 16 are outwardly inclined, in the manner shown in the drawing, then the locating pins 34 are correspondingly outwardly inclined, as is clearly shown in FIGS. 4, and 6.

Optionally and preferably, the upper surface of plate 32 is dished, in the manner shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, so that the base 16a of tray 16 is supported substantially only around the periphery thereof.

As stated above, folder 15 is supported by plate 14. Said plate 14 has any appropriate bores adjacent the sides thereof, through which rods 11 extend. A coil spring 40 is extended around each rod between plate 14 and boss 22, so that said springs 40 urge plate 14 upwardly. Holder 15 includes an upper plate 41 which is secured to plate 14 adjacent the front and rear of said plate 41 by means of a pair of bolts 41a and wing nuts 41b. Said bolts 41a are extended upwardly through appropriately countersunk apertures in plate 41 and through corresponding holes in plate 14, with wing nuts 41b being screwed onto said bolts 41a above plate 14. This p rmits ready dis-assembly of holder 15 and replacement thereof from plate 14.

Front and rear pressure plates 42 and side pressure plates 43 are fixed to plate 41, by any suitable means, and depend therefrom. Said plates 42 and 43 extend vertically and are at right angles to each other, with plates 42 extending laterally and plates 43 extending longitudinally. Preferably, these plates are slightly spaced at their approximate edges, much as a box would appear if its corners were cut away.

A series of stiff wire legs or fingers 44 extend downwardly and outwardly from plate 41 and are located outwardly of and spaced from the pressure plates 42 and 43. The lower ends of said wire legs or fingers 44 are located substantially below the lower edges of plates 42 and 43. Optionally, and without limitation, there are three front legs 44, three rear legs 44, and two legs 44 at each side of holder 13.

These legs 44 are connected at their lower ends by a generally rectangular, horizontally extending, generally rectangular wire member 45. This wire member 45 is of greater diameter than tray 16.

The heat sealing units 50 are generally conventional and are not shown or described in all details.

There are four sealing members, located proximate to the four sides of tray 16, two of these sealing members being laterally movable and two being longitudinally movable. These sealing members are all the same, except that the shoes of the longitudinally movable members are slightly wider because the tray 16 is laterally elongated. However, this showing is purely illustrative, as obviously the tray could be square or of other appropriate shape. Accordingly, for practical purposes, the four sealing units 50 are identical, and only one will be described in detail.

Said sealing unit 50 includes a solenoid 51 mounted upon frame member b (or frame member 10a as the case may be), with the axis of solenoid 51 extending in the direction of movement of the sealing shoe 19 of sealing member 50. The solenoid plunger 52 carries a plate 53 which is mounted at its respective ends upon a pair of shafts 54 which also extends in the direction of movement of sealing plate 19. These shafts 54 are journaled in respective bearings 55 on frame member 10b. The generally rectangular frame member 56 is mounted upon the front ends of shafts 54 by means of bolts 56a. Although not explained in detail, it will be apparent that by any appropriate means, the mounting of frame 56 upon shaft 54 may be adjustable so as to vary the normal spacing between frame 56 and frame member 10b, and thereby vary the inward thrust of sealing frame 19.

Frame 56 includes a plurality of inwardly extending arms 57, the inner end of which support the transversely and horizontally extended sealing shoe 19. This shoe 19 has a downwardly inclined inner face 19a.

The exact shape and construction of the heating of unit 50 can be varied. Preferably, they are made of heat-conducting metal. It will be apparent that the particular heat shoe 19 and supporting frame 56 may be readily replaced by merely removing the bolts 56a which attach the frame 56 to shaft 54.

The electrical connections of solenoid 51 and of the heat shoe 19 are conventional. and are not described in detail. It will be apparent that any appropriate electrical resistance means may be provided for supplying heat to the frame 56 and hence to the shoe 19.

It will be noted that the level of tray 16, when placed upon tray holder 13, is normally above the level of the sealing shoes 19. In order to lower tray 16, and properly to control the length of the stroke thereof, a pair of pins 60 are respectively slidably disposed in vertical bores 61 of the respective bosses 22. Each said pin has end heads 60a to prevent its escape from bore 61. When folder 15 is lowered, plate 14 strikes the upper ends of pins 60. The lower ends of pins 60 bear against the end arm portions 12b, so that arm 12 is lowered against the action of spring 26, thereby lowering tray 16. The stroke is concluded at the will of the operator, or else when a suitable stop (not shown) is reached. In any event, the result is to establish the desired level of tray 16 with respect to the sealing shoes 19. By locating the tray holder normally above the level of the sealing shoes, the edges of the sealing film 17 are prevented from coming into contact with the heating shoes 19 prior to the folding thereof.

Any suitable means (not shown), such as a microswitch, may be employed for actuating the solenoids for the heating shoes when tray 16 reaches the desired level.

The aforesaid operating handle 18 may be provided with any suitable means for raising and lowering folder 15. Optionally, a pair of blocks 62 are mounted upon plate 14 and are provided with suitable bores through which shaft 11 extend slidably, these blocks 62 serving to space plate 14 below cross-arm 21. A pair of side levers 63 are connected centrally, by means of lateral pivots 64, to the respective blocks 62. The upper ends of these arms 63 are connected by the cross rod 18 which serves as the handle. The lower end of each lever arm 63 is connected by means of lateral pivot 65 to link arm 66, at the upper end thereof. The lower end of link 66 is connected by a further lateral pivot 67 to frame wall 10a. It will be apparent that when handle 18 is lowered, holder 15 is lowered, against the action of springs 40.

The operation of the machine will be apparent without extended discussion. A tray 16 filled with any desired products, such as meat or other perishable food, is placed upon tray holder 13, being held from shifting by the locating pins 34. A sheet of any appropriate sealing film 17 is laid over the top of tray 16 with the periphery of sheet 17 protruding beyond the periphery of tray 16. Handle 18 is then lowered, thereby lowering folder 15 to the position shown in FIG. 5. The lower peripheral wire member 45 of the folder engages the outwardly protruding peripheral portion of the film 17 and folds it downwardly, in the manner shown in FIG. 5. Although the wire member 45 is lowered below the level of tray 16, as shown in FIG. 5, the fingers 44 retain the film 17a in its folded position. At the same time, the presaaaasee sure plates 42 and 43 are brought into engagement against the inner face of the inclined peripheral wall 16b and 16c of tray 16. This holds the film taut against the surface of the food or other product 70 contained within tray 16, and also serves as a backing for the respective peripheral tray walls 16b and 160, against the pressure of the sealing shoes 19. This is particularly important when tray 16 is made of soft paperboard or other material commonly used for packaging purposes. Upon further depression of operating handle 18, the folder and tray holder are brought to the position of FIG. 6. At this point, the sealing shoes 19 are extended inwardly with their inclined surfaces 19a engaging flush against the outer surfaces of the peripheral walls 16b and 160 and pressing the film portion 17a between the surfaces 19a and said peripheral walls 16b and 160. The material 17a is then sealed by the heat of the shoes to the walls 16b and 160. Without limitation, the peripheral walls 16b and 160 may either be made of heat-scalable material, or may be coated with appropriate heat-sealing material. Similarly, the film 17 may be a heat-scalable material or may be coated in the regions 17a, or over the entire surface thereof, with heat-sealable material. In any event, the container 16 and the film 17 are such as to facilitate heat sealing thereof around the peripheral region 170 and the side walls 16b and 160, in the usual manner.

After an appropriate dwell period, handle 18 is released, whereby the return springs 40 and 26 return the tray holder and folder to their normal positions. Any suitable means may be employed for sumultaneously returning the heat shoes 19 to their norm-a1 retracted positions, as by means of appropriate return springs (not shown) or appropriate electrical solenoid means, the operation in either instance being controlled by release of a microswitch, or by any other suitable means (not shown).

It will be apparent as an important feature of the invention, that packages of varying sizes may be sealed by the apparatus shown and described above. In the case of a trayof different size, it is merely necessary to replace the tray holder 13 with one of appropriate size corresponding to the size of the container 16, to replace the folder with one of appropriate corresponding size, and if necessary to replace the heat-ing shoes 19 with shoes of appropriate width and height. Accordingly, the invention is particularly suitable for use in the processing of relatively small runs of packages of the type shown, particularly when packages of varying sizes are to be wrapped.

While I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of my invention, and have indicated various changes, omissions and additions which may be made therein, it will be apparent that various other changes, omissions and additions may be made in the invention, without departing from the scope and spirit thereof.

For example, instead of using solenoids to actuate the movement of the sealing members it is possible to use air cylinders which may be controlled by solenoid valves or by any other suitable means, the use of air cylinders for such purpose being well known in the art.

I claim:

1. A sealing machine comprising a base, a sealer mounted upon said base and adapted to be moved radially inwardly and outwardly, a tray support mounted upon said base so as to be vertically movable, means normally biasing said tray support for location thereof above the level of said sealer, said tray support being downwardly movable to the level of said sealer, said tray suppont having on its upper face a plurality of locating pins adapted to receive a tray upon said tray support with the peripheral Wall of said tray located inwardly of and in abutting relation to said pins, said tray being adapted to receive film material over the open top thereof, said film material being oversized with respect to the top of said tray to provide a peripheral overhang of said film material, a folder, means mounting said folder above said tray support so that said folder is movable between an upper position in which it is remote from said tray support and a bottom position thereof, means normally biasing said folder to its upper position, said folder com-prising a folder support, a plurality of pressure members depending from said folder support, a plurality of spaced fingers depending from said folder support outwardly of said pressure members, a circumferential member connecting the lower end of said fingers and located in generally horizontal plane, said circumferential member being of greater diameter than said tray, and means for lowering said folder, said circumferential member being adapted to engage against the peripheral overhang of said film matrial and fold same downwardly about the outer surface of the peripheral wall of said tray and said circumferential member being further adapted to continue below the level of said tray with said fingers being then adapted to engage against the folded portion of said film material, said pressure members being also adapted to engage against the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said tray, said folder support having means adapted upon further lowering of said folder to engage against said tray support and lower it to the level of said sealer, and means for moving said sealer inwardly into engagement with the folded portion of said film, said sealer being adapted thereupon to seal said folded material to the outer surface of the periphery of said tray.

2. Machine according to claim 1, said tray support being dish-shaped and being shaped so that said tray is supported only adjacent to the periphery of the bottom thereof.

3. A machine in accordance with claim 1, said tray support, said folder and said sealer being interchangeable.

4. A sealing machine comprising a base, a sealer mounted upon said base and adapted to be moved radially inwardly and outwardly, a tray support mounted upon said base so as to be vertically movable, means normally biasing said tray support for location thereof above the level of said sealer, said tray support being downwardly movable to the level of said sealer, said tray support being adapted to receive a tray upon the upper face thereof, said tray being adapted to receive film material over the open top thereof, said film material being oversized with respect to the top of said tray to provide a peripheral overhang of said film material, a folder, means mounting said folder above said tray support so that said folder is movable between an upper position in which it is remote from said tray support and a bottom position thereof, means normally biasing said foldler to its upper position, said folder comprising a folder support, a plurality of pressure members depending from said folder support, a plurality of spaced fingers depending from said folder support outwardly of said pressure members, a circumferential member connecting the lower end of said fingers and located in generally horizontal plane, said circumferential member being of greater diameter than said tray, and means for lowering said folder, said circumferential member being adapted to engage against the peripheral overhang of said film material and fold same downwardly about the outersurface of the peripheral wall of said tray and said circumferential member being further adapted to continue below the level of said tray with said fingers being then adapted to engage against the folded portion of said film material, said pressure members being also adapted to engage against the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said tray, said folder support having means adapted upon further lowering of said folder to engage against said tray support and lower it to the level of said sealer, and means for moving said sealer inwardly into engagement with the folded portion of said film, said sealer being adapted thereupon to seal said folded material to the outer surface of the periphery of said tray.

A sealing machine comprising a base, a sealer mounted upon said base and adapted to be moved radially inwardly and outwardly, a tray support mounted upon said base and adapted to be positioned at the level of said sealing member, said tray support being adapted to receive a tray upon the upper face thereof, said tray being adapted to receive film material over the open top thereof, said film material being oversized with respect to the top of said tray to provide a peripheral overhang of said film material, a folder, means mounting said folder above said tray support so that said folder is movable between an upper position in which it is remote from said tray support and a bottom position thereof, means normally biasing said folder to its upper position, said folder comprising a folder support, a plurality of pressure members depending from said folder support, a plurality of spaced fingers depending from said folder support outwardly of said pressure members, a circumferential member connecting the lower end of said fingers and located in generally horizontal plane, said circumferential member being of greater diameter than said tray, and means for lowering said folder, said circurnferential member being adapted to engage against the peripheral overhang of said film material and fold same downwardly about the outer surface of the peripheral wall of said tray and said circumferential member being further adapted to continue below the level of said tray with said fingers being then adapted to engage against the folded portion of said film material, said pressure members being also adapted to engage against the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said tray, and means for moving said sealer inwardly into engagement with the folded portion of said film, said sealer being adapted thereupon to seal said folded material to the outer surface of the periphery of said tray.

6. A sealing machine comprising a base, a sealer mounted upon said base and adapted to be moved radially inwardly and outwardly, a tray support mounted upon said base, said tray support being adapted to be positioned at the level of said sealer, said tray support being adapted to receive a tray on the upper face thereof, said tray being adapted to receive film material over the open top thereof, said film material being oversized with respect to the top of said tray to provide a peripheral overhang of said film material, a folder, means mounting said folder above said tray support so that said folder is movable between an upper position in which it is remote from said tray support and a bottom position thereof, means normally biasing said folder to its upper position, said folder comprising a folder support, a plurality of pressure members depending from said folder, a plurality of spaced fingers depending from said folder support outwardly of said pressure members, the lower ends of said fingers being located below the lower ends of said pressure members, a a circumferential member connecting the lower end of said fingers and located in generally horizontal plane, said circumferential member being of greater diameter than said tray, and means for lowering said folder, said circumferential member being adapted to engage against the peripheral overhang of said film material and fold same downwardly about the outer surface of the peripheral wall of said tray and said circumferential member being further adapted to continue below the level of said tray with said fingers being then adapted to engage against the folded portion of said film material, said pressure members being also adapted to engage against the inner surface of the peripheral wall of said tray, and means for moving said sealer inwardly into engagement with the folded portion of said film, said sealer being adapted thereupon to seal said folded material to the outer surface of the periphery of said tray.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,978,630 Hesson Oct. 30, 1934 2,076,291 Bodor Apr. 6, 1937 2,608,811 Stern Sept. 2, 1952 2,889,675 Anderson June 9, 1959 

